Study subjects of the Art Therapy course at VŠPJ

• Activation, educational, educational techniques and leisure pedagogy with a focus on working with material (8 hours)

Working with different types of materials and their use in art therapy. Emphasis is placed on following technological procedures while respecting the properties of the materials with regard to the chosen topic.

• Art therapy applied to the target group: families and children (20 hours)

Practical demonstrations of the use of selected art therapy methods and techniques in coping with challenging situations.

• Applied Art Therapy: target group People recovering from drug/alcohol addiction (8 hours)

Practical demonstrations of the use of selected art therapy methods and techniques when working with people addicted to alcohol and drugs.

• Art Therapy as a Lifelong Opportunity for Growth (8 hours)

An introduction to the content and scope of art therapy and other related areas such as the development of children's artistic expression. Orientation in basic concepts and possibilities of art therapy, use of the function of art therapy, work with goals of art therapy (relaxation, self-experience, self-perception, knowledge of own possibilities, development of imagination, perception and acceptance of other people, contact and involvement in the group, joint problem solving).

• Dramatherapy (28 hours)

Demonstration and application of dramatic arts resources to help change human behavior, thinking emotions, or personal structure in a socially and individually acceptable direction. Focusing on symptom management of a wide range of diagnoses. Use of the staging space of a play in role, physical means of expression, symbolic gestures, and various forms of improvisation.

• Creative Writing as a Therapeutic Method (10 hours)

Learning the basic methods and practices of creative writing in the context of art therapy. Using creative writing as an aid to psychodiagnostic tools in the recognition of mental disorders, as a therapeutic method for individual clients. The involvement of literary creation (poetry, prose, dramatic text) in the psychotherapeutic process, both collective and individual, highlighting the participation of the unconscious of the patient so that in the result in the literary text his intuition manifests and projects reality.

• Methods of Projective Techniques (8 hours)

Familiarization with the most commonly used psychological methods as well as conditions ensuring the greatest objectivity of the data obtained, methods of application, recording and evaluation of data.

• Music Therapy (26 hours)

Introduction to the development and major schools in the field of music therapy, the principles of individual and group music therapy. The basics of playing simple musical instruments (single-headed drum, snare drum, Tibetan bowl, etc.). Working with the voice and using elements of musical improvisation.

• Ontogenetic Psychology for Art Therapists (18 hours)

The general basis of ontogenetic psychology in relation to art therapy: the development of play, drawing, dramatization, the maturity of communication with visual arts, processes of creativity, etc., showing similar dynamics of their mechanisms, including the link to the capacity for expressive self-expression, changes in social relationships, the nature of metacommunication, projection, reflection on the social atmosphere, empathy, changes in value consciousness, etc., which also contribute, at the various stages of ontogeny, to the fulfillment of the corresponding functions of imagination (e.g., orienting, cathartic, anticipatory, fixative, emancipatory, integrative, harmonizing, etc.) in the totality of the personality's mental processes.

• Psychology of Imaginative Education (16 hours)

A review of cultural anthropological concepts, clarification of the function of art for the human being, introduction to historical changes in the link between art and ideology, uncovering the psychological sources of inspiration, and finding congruence in the dynamics of imaginative activities from dreams, to myths, fairy tales, children's games, dramatization, children's drawings, and visual art to architecture.

• Psychology of Personality (20 hours)

A review of concepts of personality and an introduction to the layered model of subordination and interaction of decision-making bases from biological aspects to components of socialization to distinctive ego-tendencies.

• Psychomotor Therapy (16 hours)

Developing the ability to experience and develop the skill of consciously strengthening the links of movement with experience. Included in the course is the theory of client work in psychomotor therapy, stress theory and stress management for art therapists.

• Psychopathology, Psychiatry, Psychotherapy (16 hours)

An introduction to the types of adaptive difficulties, mental disorders and illnesses, including an introduction to different forms of psychotherapy along with the potential application and impact of art therapy.

• Self-guided art therapy with clients (16 hours)

Practical knowledge for the needs of independent art therapy management with clients.

• Dance Movement Therapy (18 hours)

Approaching the synergy of mental processes through movement and then applying the findings in hands-on exercises in dance therapy, designed for individual development and whole group bonding.

• Story Therapy - Storytelling (20 hours)

Introduction to the newer therapeutic method of "storytelling", the essence of which in its therapeutic use is to achieve a change in a person's view of reality, not to achieve a change in reality.

• Demonstration of the application of selected art therapy techniques (20 hours)

Practice analyzing a selected demonstration from the perspective of an art therapist, identifying the benefits and pitfalls of each didactic principle with different client groups.

• Application of art therapy in different types of life crises and challenging situations, at different ages and for different mental illnesses (10 hours)

Demonstrations of practical application of selected art therapy methods and techniques in coping with challenging situations.

• Art-making and Diagnosis (10 hours)

Practical diagnostic procedures applicable to art making.

• Art Techniques and Art Therapy (8 hours)

Explaining the interplay between mental agency and artistic expression.

• Basics of communication, development of communication skills, assertiveness, alternative communication methods (4 hours)

Development of verbal skills and culture of speaking. Acquisition of theoretical background information for the needs of effective communication. Decision making to choose appropriate communication methods with regard to the specific situation.

Recommended Reading:

BARISONO, JUSTIN. EQ Emotional intelligence in everyday life. Prague, Grada, 2019. ISBN 978-80-7625-052-9.

DLABAL, MARTIN. Communication in helping professions. Prague, Portál, 2021. ISBN 978-80-262-1806-7.

FONTANA, DAVID. Social skills in practice. Prague, Portál, 2017. ISBN 978-80-262-1197-6.

LOŠŤÁKOVÁ, JANA. Empathic and assertive communication. Prague, Grada, 2020. ISBN 978-80-271-2227-1.

NAVARRO, JOE. The secrets of body language. Prague, Grada, 2019. ISBN 978-80-271-2477-0.

• Final thesis writing seminar + consultation (6+10 hours)

Selection, principles, preparation of the final thesis.

• Practicum (16 hours)

Familiarization with operation of the selected organization, activities performed. Own practical activity = application of the acquired theoretical knowledge from previous training in practice, familiarization with occupational therapy and occupational therapy techniques applied under the guidance of experienced and university-educated lecturers in the given field.

Changes in the curriculum are subject to change by the study group (depending on the needs of the study group)